Global Issues and Influence

The New Zealand Context 

The Ministry of Education (2015) state key principles of teaching and learning in New Zealand are to be future focused, inclusive and promote learning to learn. All of these principles are an important part of what makes the New Zealand education system unique. In a previous Education Review Office report (2012) these principles were reflected in the key finding that learning should be student centred to be successful. In my own context we have been working on increasing student-centred learning opportunities over the past two years. Student-centred learning focusing on fostering the strengths and interests of each individual in a traditional learning setting (Education Review Office, 2012). The report found that teachers who embrace student-centred learning have a sense of optimism and a strong belief that they can change educational outcomes by putting the students at the heart of learning choices. From a student perspective, being a partner in their learning empowers students to build a sense of self and become competent, capable and achieving learners (Education Review Office, 2012).

Global Context

Society in general has undergone rapid change over the past ten years. Partly due to a huge increase in technology and globalisation of ideas. The National Intelligence Council produced a report (2012) stating the next biggest trends that will influence the world. One of these trends that relates closely to education is the increase of individual empowerment. Most teachers a familiar with Fisch & McLeod's video Shift Happens (2012) where the statement “We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist . . . using technologies that haven’t been invented . . . in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.” is unleashed. While this may be true the National Intelligence Council (2012) argue that by increasing individual empowerment people will develop greater initiative to solve the next global crisis. Their report states that individual empowerment is on the rise due to a number of factors including poverty reduction, increasing middle class, better educational attainment and improved healthcare. This is impacting education as people are now expecting a level of autonomy and empowerment over their own learning. 

My Context

In my primary teaching context I believe student-centered learning is very important as primary education is where students either love learning or get turned off school. Through incorporating the tukana-teina concept in our classrooms children feel empowered to teach others and share their own expertise. This also empowers them to begin to drive their own learning at a young age by articulating their own strengths and areas for growth. Reflecting on my context on a global stage the community of my school is a very affluent, decile 10 area of a large city. Although individual empowerment may be growing globally it has been present in my community for many years and is now ingrained in our school culture. I think it is great that this is becoming a global trend and being promoted in a wide range of contexts. Research shows (Weimer, 2013) learner-centered schools and practice produce better results than traditional teacher-driven practice.


References

Education Review Office. (2012). Evaluation at a Glance: Priority Learners in New Zealand Schools. Retrieved 18 May 2016, from http://www.ero.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Evaluation-at-a-Glance-Priority-Learners-in-New-Zealand-Schools-August-2012.pdf

Ministry of Education. (2015). Principles. Retrieved February 15, 2017, from http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Principles

National Intelligence Council. (2012). Global trends: Alternative Worlds. National Intelligence Council: US. Retrieved from https://globaltrends2030.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/global-trends-2030-november2012.pdf

Weimer, M. (2013). Learner-centered teaching: five key changes to practice. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Fisch, K., & McLeod, S. (2012, February 28). Retrieved February 14, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmwwrGV_aiE